The GRTC Pulse (Bus
Rapid Transit) Project enters the semi-final design phase in Fall 2015 with
several key milestones completed.
In July 2015, the
conceptual design phase ended. This design was presented to the public for
feedback at two public meetings on July 27 and 28, 2015. Additionally, the
conceptual design was presented to the City of Richmond’s Urban Design
Committee (UDC) on August 20, 2015 and the Planning Commission (PC) on
September 8, 2015. Both the UDC and the PC voted unanimously to recommend the
conceptual design of the Pulse project, and provided specific feedback for the
project partners to investigate and consider moving forward into the next phase
of design work.
On September 15, 2015,
GRTC announced receipt of the fully executed, approved TIGER (Transportation
Investment Generating Economic Recovery) Grant from the U.S. Department of
Transportation (US DOT) in the amount of $24.9 Million. After slight shifting
of station locations between the award of the TIGER Grant in September 2014 and
the end of the preliminary design phase in Summer 2015, another Section 106
review was conducted in compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act
to both confirm and ensure that “no adverse effect” would occur to any historic
and archaeological sites along the project corridor. Public comment and
participation is a part of the Section 106 process, as well. With these reviews
complete, the US DOT finished processing the awarded grant. This receipt of the
fully executed grant means the project remains on schedule and the Federal
funds are in the bank.
The next phase of
design will continue to include public engagement and feedback. The partners, comprised
of the Commonwealth of Virginia (DRPT & VDOT), City of Richmond, GRTC and
Henrico County, are collaboratively working to explore the feasibility and
thoroughly address the recommended UDC and PC suggestions. They will also
investigate and review, to the degree possible, other public concerns submitted
during the public feedback process. This will include a detailed public
response to each item including why or why not a recommendation is feasible
with thorough technical explanation.
Members of the community and other stakeholders should expect an
increased frequency of face-to-face engagement opportunities as the team is
committed to working responsibly and comprehensively with the public. The
semi-final design will be presented at public meetings on October 26 and 27,
2015 and also posted online at http://www.ridegrtc.com/brt/documents/. The project team plans to present the
semi-final design to the UDC and PC at meetings held in November 2015.
GRTC Pulse service
will be operational in October 2017, providing improved quality of life with a faster,
more frequent, improved, modern, urban transit service to better-connect the
Greater Richmond Area. The Pulse is a high quality, high capacity modern
transportation system that will serve a 7.6-mile route through the high-density
and high-ridership areas along Broad Street to Main Street in the City of
Richmond, with a terminus point at Rocketts Landing in the east and in Henrico
County at Willow Lawn in the west.
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